Living in Wilkes-Barre, PA — The Diamond City

Wilkes-Barre is the county seat of Luzerne County and the working heart of the Wyoming Valley — a city of about 44,000 on the Susquehanna River, 25 minutes down I-81 from Scranton, with the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s Northeast Extension close by for trips toward Allentown and Philadelphia. Founded in 1769 and built on anthracite coal, today it runs on healthcare, education, and one of the most affordable housing markets in the region.

Two universities sit within walking distance of Public Square, an 8,300-seat arena hosts everything from AHL hockey to national tours, and the riverfront has been rebuilt into a park-and-trail system the whole valley uses.

Food & Drink

• Bank+Vine — farm-to-table dining inside the 1912 South Side Bank building, under 30-foot vaulted ceilings in the old lobby.
• Cafe Toscana — Northern Italian right on Public Square: veal, risotto and seafood.
• Breaker Brewing Company — a coal-heritage craft brewery pouring since 2009 in a former parish school.
• Anthracite Cafe — burgers, wings and smokehouse specials with a deep craft-beer list.
• El Rey Azteca — consistently among the city’s top-rated Mexican restaurants.
• Cork Bar & Restaurant — a long-standing local favorite.
• Abide Coffeehouse — repeatedly cited among the city’s best coffee shops; and Purrfect Mugs, a cafe that doubles as a cat foster home.

Things to Do

The historic F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts brings national touring acts downtown. Mohegan Arena at Casey Plaza is home ice for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins — Pittsburgh’s AHL affiliate — plus concerts and family shows, and the Mohegan Pennsylvania casino resort is next door in Plains Township. The 14-screen R/C Movies 14 anchors downtown entertainment. Each May, Public Square hosts the Fine Arts Fiesta — the oldest juried arts festival in Pennsylvania, drawing more than 50,000 people over four free days — and Kirby Park’s Cherry Blossom Festival marks spring on the riverfront. The River Street Jazz Cafe keeps live music going year-round.

Outdoors & Parks

Kirby Park is a 52-acre riverfront park designed by the Olmsted Brothers — the firm behind New York’s Central Park — with tennis courts, ballfields, a running track and an inclusive playground. The River Common and levee trail system put miles of flat riverside walking and biking at the city’s front door. Fifteen minutes east, the Seven Tubs Recreation Area in Pinchot State Forest features glacial rock pools and waterfalls — free to visit.

Gyms & Fitness

Odyssey Fitness Center (a full-service club since 1983, with a pool and indoor track), Crunch Fitness, Planet Fitness, Danko’s All American Fitness, NEPA CrossFit, Orangetheory and the Wilkes-Barre Family YMCA.

Schools

The city is served by the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, whose consolidated high school in Plains Township is one of the newer school facilities in the region. Downtown is a legitimate college neighborhood: Wilkes University (founded 1933) and King’s College both sit blocks from Public Square.

School Performance

State assessment results for the high school serving Wilkes-Barre, from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Future Ready PA Index, 2024–25 school year:

• Wilkes-Barre Area High School — Keystone Literature 49.6% proficient or advanced (statewide 49.9%) · Keystone Algebra I 21.7% (statewide 41.7%) · four-year graduation rate 77.1% (statewide 88.0%)

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Education, Future Ready PA Index, 2024–25. We publish these same three measures, from this same source, on every community page in this guide.

Everyday Essentials

Arena Hub Plaza — billed as the largest open-air retail center in Northeast PA — plus the Wyoming Valley Mall cover shopping. For healthcare, Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center is the region’s tertiary-care hub, and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital also serves the city.

The Homes

This is one of the most affordable markets in the metro, and it moves — well-priced homes regularly draw multiple offers. The stock runs from grand older homes near the river to practical doubles and post-war neighborhoods, which makes Wilkes-Barre one of the few places in the valley where a first-time buyer and an investor can shop the same street.